Aces Ballpark this past summer. / Tom Smedes/Special to RGJ file

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In an afternoon of political drama at Reno City Hall, the new majority on the Reno City Council, backed by council members Dwight Dortch and Sharon Zadra, made an about-face on the city's march to solidify the Aces Ballpark subsidy deal.

Before the City Council transition happened this afternoon, the Reno City Council approved an agreement with the Aces Ballpark owners that ensured the team would stay in Reno for 30 years as long as the city made good on its $1 million annual payments.

That led to concerns from Dortch and Zadra that the city could face a potential credit risk in the future of the City Council ever decides to not make the $1 million payment. They noted an example in Minnesota where a city in a similar lease agreement with a sports stadium agreed to stop making payments this fall, leading to two credit rating agencies downgrading the city's general obligation credit to junk status.

Dortch and Zadra made the political maneuver of voting in favor of the guarantee agreement before the City Council transition took place, allowing them ask for another vote on the agreement once the new council took office later in the afternoon. In 6-1 vote, with Mayor Bob Cashell in the minority, the City Council agreed to rescind the guarantee, leaving the door open for more potential changes to Reno's Aces Ballpark subsidy.

Dorth and Zadra voted against the deal last week with now-former Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza. All three were opposed to using the city's strained general fund to largely pay for a $1 million annual subsidy over the next 30 years. Supporters said the deal is needed to keep the stadium open and the economic benefits it brings to the region, something local businesses that surround the stadium (including a potential hotel development) have argued.

Without a city-backed subsidy that's needed to refinance a $55 million construction loan used to build the ballpark, the Reno Aces owners have said they would consider leaving the Biggest Little City.

Meanwhile, the owners of the Reno Aces showed up to Reno City Hall on Wednesday with an attorney who argued the City Council's reconsideration of the guarantee agreement violated the law.

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All four new council members, Jenny Brekhus, Oscar Delgado, Neoma Jardon and Hillary Schieve, have expressed concerns, or outright opposition, to a general fund public subsidy for the baseball stadium. Here they are in their own words from a story in the RGJ that ran last month:

Ward 1: Jenny Brekhus: "I do not see myself in a position, based upon what I know today, to support additional subsidy in the form of general revenue funds for the baseball team owners. A commitment of general revenue would subtract from the city's ability to provide already compromised essential services or to pay off existing debt obligations."

Ward 3: Oscar Delgado: While he would be open to listening to the different options, he said the city is also hurting for cash. "The main concern is the question of general funds to even pay for the stadium. … I have some hesitation about that."

Ward 5: Neoma Jardon: While she's willing to listen to other options, she's against a general fund subsidy: "I think we need to work with the Aces owners to keep this wonderful Reno asset, (but) we need to look at other alternatives than subsidizing their business. I am fundamentally against government subsidizing a private business."

At-large: Hillary Schieve: Said she wants a vote of city residents to decide if general fund dollars should be used to refinance Aces Ballpark. And while she's willing to consider all options, she said "it's hard to support a bailout using general fund money."